Long story short, roughly 2 months ago I helped a fellow coworker in his conversion to trad., this fellas interest and excitement for going trad. is over the top, now we fast forward to the present.
When i ask how how is shooting is coming I always get the same answer,....he hasnt been shooting at all and whats worse is that hes primed and fired up about hitting the woods this coming deer season with tackle that he will in no way be able to shoot accurately!
Im sure he loves the trad. nostalgia but that in itself wont make a clean kill!
How do I get thru to this guy, that along with trad. gear comes commitmant to becoming the best you can be with your gear?
Ive helped others in the past who stuck with it and work hard at it, but I sure hope I didnt make a big mistake this time. :dunno:
Be honest with him. Let him know that one of the differences vs modern archery equipment is that he needs to shoot....a lot.
I shoot at least a few arrows every day. Not always a full blown 'session"....but at least 5-6 arrows.
Yep, I agree with Roger. He needs to know that a recurve or a longbow isnt a compound. He needs to get his "mind" right & shoot often. good luck.
Get him to go to a few 3D shoots with you if some are near. Invite him over and shoot for a coke or something. There are some subtle ways to show him he's not ready. And if you end up owing him a six pack then you'll know he's better than expected ;)
It's tough to know before hand if someone is going to work out or not. If someone asks, we're all going to encourage them. And do what we can to help. At some point it's up to them to step up.
If this guy makes a mess of things, it doesn't sound like it's your fault. Keep on him for a bit, but don't take it personally if he doesn't live up to his side of the bargain. Not everyone is suited for this lifestyle.
I agree with the above statements.
If hes not willing to learn, maybe he will end up learning the hard way. unfortunately some people are just hard headed. You cannot let it bother you.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
Get him to go to a few 3D shoots with you if some are near. Invite him over and shoot for a coke or something. There are some subtle ways to show him he's not ready. And if you end up owing him a six pack then you'll know he's better than expected ;)
Good idea Bud.
It has nothing to do with you or trad gear so don't think somehow you did something to cause a potential problem with a hunter and the game. If he will not put in the time to shoot well with trad gear so he can make ethical shots with it, he is also likely the same type that will shoot too far or take bad shots with any other weapon. You either respect the game or you don't. It doesn't matter what you hunt with. I know people that will not shoot a compound more than a few times the week before hunting season or who don't bother checking the zero on their gun let alone practice with it. It is all the same thing in the end if you make a bad shot.
The only person you have any chance of having control over is.... you!
Having said that, you can be a positive influence...leading by example.
God bless you for caring and trying to do the right thing.
His servant, Mudd
You just have to love flinging arrows to begin with.
If this guy has a valid hunting license and legal equipment that should be all that matters to you as a fellow hunter. You can only paddle your boat.
You have done everything you can..it's up to him now.
Paul it looks like you done you're part by getting him started. But its left up to him if he wants to continue the journey. Dont beat yourself up over this. You've done what was right. God bless ya brother.
I have taken newbies on Canadian canoe trips. I always had a problem with those that wanted me to believe that they could do it all and did not need any advice or training, and then that first giant lake complete with white caps hit them and the their bluff ended. I no longer take the know it all BSers along anymore. It will not be the same for you because he can buy his own tags. You can invite him to shoot with you at a small deer target with a nice grassy arrow eating back drop. After he loses a few arrows he will take hitting the target more seriously.
Challenge him to a cold shot competition. Different distances and positions. Make it interesting. First arrow is the only one that counts. It's not only fun but a real good way to find your effective range. Do it every day for a couple months before season assuming you both have a place to shoot. Alternate calling the shots. Take pictures with your cellphones and text them back and forth. Keep score and the winner every week gets a couple rounds of drinks or a dinner on the loser. Once a month go stump shooting or to a 3D.
sad thing is he's liable to connect first time out, and further solidify his way of thinking
QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
Get him to go to a few 3D shoots with you if some are near. Invite him over and shoot for a coke or something. There are some subtle ways to show him he's not ready. And if you end up owing him a six pack then you'll know he's better than expected ;)
That worked with me....
QuoteOriginally posted by JamesV:
If this guy has a valid hunting license and legal equipment that should be all that matters to you as a fellow hunter. You can only paddle your boat.
I don't agree.
QuoteOriginally posted by KOOK68:
sad thing is he's liable to connect first time out, and further solidify his way of thinking
That's true!
Let him go. Let him fail. Let him learn.
Well fellas this morning I asked if he had shot any over the weekend, this was after bringing it up in a Morning B.S session that I had shot a bit both Sat. and Sun, the reply I got shocked me...... "You have to shoot everyday because you shoot 70lb bows, mines only 40 lbs", that went thru me like a Sabre! but I maintained my composure (not sure how that happened, cause im not good at biting my tongue) and explained that poundage has nothing to do with it, as accuracy is what counts and you have to practice in order to achieve accuracy.
I may or may not have got thru to him, as im beginning to think that there are some lazy and ethical issues with this guy, that are beyond outside help, but im gonna keep at it.
John, im going to throw your idea out there and see what happens, you never know, he might bite.
I don't think you made a mistake. He will figure it out or he won't last as a trad hunter. It's not for everybody.
I think the reason theres so few of us, relatively speaking is because it IS harder than most people think. A lot of compound guys don't shoot till right before deer season opens. Not all of them, some are very dedicated, but a lot . People getting into trad sometimes don't realize that if you're going to be consistently successful bowhunting, this becomes a lifestyle.
Many people just won't put that kind of time in.
Thank you Mr. Cook, your post really put my mind at ease, for with much disappointment and failure he will only last so long, and as you stated, its not for everybody.
Just an added note, this possible bad incident, will in no way deter me from wanting to help others who want to try the traditional journey, for as Mr. Cook stated, it a lifestyle, and one that has given many of us, yrs. of pleasure,joy and success. It is not for the mere passers by, but in fact it is for those who accept the dedication, challenge and love of doing it our way........the trad. way......and as for myself, the only way!
Well . . you could introduce him to the website and see that he stumbles across this thread . ..
:readit:
Kingsnake
On another note . . .my concern with the "Let him go. Let him fail. Let him learn." approach is that to some guys, injured and lost deer only mean "It's time for a new arrow."
:(
Kingsnake
Kingsnake, ive given him numerous research sources, such as this fine site, but he never visits this one or others, seems he has no interest in learning anything about his newly found craft. Now that ive got him set up with matched tackle that flys well and some basic shooting form, I guess that he is of the opinion that he has acquired all that he needs to be an efficient traditional archer/ hunter.
Im hoping I can change that.
How were you appointed to be this guy's over-seer, or be the judge of his right to hunt with traditional equipment, hopefully not just because you got him interested in Traditional equipment? If you think you made a mistake introducing this man to trad archery just because he didn't measure up to your expectations then you are the one with the problem. How much should one practice shooting to keep the ehtics police from revoking your hunting privaleges?
James, im no ones over-seer and im no ones judge of who should or shouldnt hunt with trad. gear, but isnt it the responsibility of all hunters to be the best that they can be with there choice of equipment?
I would assume James that you are one who practices with your tackle so as to be able to make a clean humane kill....and shouldnt that be the goal of all hunters? Seems to me that a flood of recorded wounded animals, because of laziness and no dedication will bring fourth faster the ethics police and will result in the revocation of our hunting privileges sooner.
By the way James, the expectations of myself and others are pretty simple,... take the time to get it right! for the future of our hunting sports depends on it!!! Just hanging back in the shadows and saying wound them, mame them... oooops I shot it through the gut ,but thats ok, ill go get another one mentality, is not the image that hunters need!
Solid hunter education, with a do it best mentality, with positive ethics reinforcement are what we need in order to keep our hunting sports afloat!
Think of the many, and not the few!
And im the one with the problem??????
I agree. You have done your part. You have encouiraged him to try trad and have admonished him to become proficient. The rest is up to him. But, as some have suggested, taking him to some 3D shoots and inviting him to practice with you ought to open his eyes. If all else fails, I would flat out tell him he is not ready. Sorry if that is not a politically correct follow up.
Well said Sam! I will in fact try the suggestions of my fellow trandgang members, in hopes of that he will see that effort + fun will = a lifetime of enjoyment as well as success on what might be his lifetime journey in trad. archery.